Singapore tops Asia in full-time adult employment

Singapore has emerged as the top Asian country in full-time employment for adults, excluding those self-employed, with 48 per cent of adults having this type of work, according to Gallup’s 2018 Global Great Jobs Briefing.

Singapore also leads the region in “full-time employment that engages workers”, with 11 per cent of adults fitting this description. Photo: Connected to India

Hong Kong is second at 43 per cent and Taiwan is third at 42 per cent, as per the report released today.

The report shows the distribution of high-quality jobs around the globe and how those jobs improve work and life outcomes for businesses and employees alike.

Singapore also leads the region in “full-time employment that engages workers”, with 11 per cent of adults fitting this description. This is followed by Mongolia (10 per cent) and the Philippines (9 per cent).

Gallup defines people who are engaged at work as “highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work”, who drive performance and innovation and move their organisation forward. Gallup added that research shows that across industries and countries, teams with highly engaged members are, on average, 17 per cent more productive than those with lower average engagement.

Globally, Singapore is third in terms of percentage of the total adult population that are employed full time and engaged at work. The US and Russia tie for first place with 13 per cent, while the United Arab Emirates is in second place with 12 per cent. Singapore, Kazakhstan and Panama share third place with 11 per cent.

“Despite Singapore's strong overall job performance relative to other countries, it still suffers from a large engagement deficit,” Gallup said.

While 37 per cent of Singapore's adult population has full-time employment, only 11 per cent of the population do so and are engaged at work.

Gallup added, “This engagement deficit has negative impacts on employers and employees in Singapore, lowering productivity and retention as well as depressing workers' well-being. Business leaders in Singapore should be particularly concerned about engagement if they want to fully develop their human capital.”